With modern components or factory loaded ammo I think the 458wm is a hard one to beat. As far as the action of the 798, all I can say is I have read some very good reports on the Remington. It is after all, a model 98Mauser, and there have been a lot of custom guns built on that action. Having a 458wm built on a 4 eagle Nazi mauser myself (if the gunsmith ever get's it done, is another story) fitting it with Mossberg ghost ring sights.

Being that you smith yourself, if it's a good buy, you could work out any little kink's if you found any. I say go for it.

I can speak for the caliber, not for the gun itself.
I have a Krieghoff double rifle 458 WM and love to shoot it.
Some will argue that 458 WM is a bit obsolete, but it is a great classical african caliber. Multiple choices of bullets and manufacturers, very reliable.
Go for it, you take minimal risks...

BART, this may be just my opinion, but, if you are taking a 450 Rig, why take the 458wm? Two 458 cal rifle seems redundant to me. You have three 375H&H's why not take one of those if for some reason the 450 fails in any way? I agree with an earlier post, as long as the brass is headstamped properly you would get them both in, but again, why?

Get it, you want a 500gr. bullet with some A$$ behind it. Again, I must say from everything I have read the WM will accomplish the same as your Rigby. So I guess I see your point (want not need). A lot of tall tales have been written about the 458wm, and most I believe. I would pick it above the 404, again just for no other reason than the lost ammo senerio.

Polish the bolt, do a bedding and trigger job you will have a great rifle and a great hunt. Enjoy.

The action used in the Rem is the same as the Mark X and Whitworth series rifles (Yugoslavia) and they are fine rifles especially the Whitworth. The more you use them the better they get. And as far as the Ruger question above, which model early or later? Early 77 458's are push feed guns for those that care. I have owned a Whitworth .375 since '84 and its always been 100 percent reliable and verrrrry accurate. Its the one I took a buffalo with one shot with.

The action used in the Rem is the same as the Mark X and Whitworth series rifles (Yugoslavia) and they are fine rifles especially the Whitworth. The more you use them the better they get. And as far as the Ruger question above, which model early or later? Early 77 458's are push feed guns for those that care. I have owned a Whitworth .375 since '84 and its always been 100 percent reliable and verrrrry accurate. Its the one I took a buffalo with one shot with.

No experience with them Bart. I've read they take work but once it's done they make fine rifles. For full disclosure being Winchester prone, I'd say if the price on this rifle is somewhere in the $700-800 range, go buy a M70 in the same caliber. Short of a bedding job to protect the stock, it's a shooter out of the box.

You get bored with it later, you can convert it from a heavy deer rifle to a real DG caliber, a 458 Lott! :devil:

As a smith every rifle is just a kit to me. However if you start with a poor kit well you get the picture. I am not particular to any brand but never had a particuraly accurate M70 takes alot of work to true them. The parts to accurize them cost more. Its cheaper to buy a CZ 550.